MS PowerPoint

Design &
Layout Tips
Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Topics in This Presentation

Templates

Masters

Colors

Fonts and Typography Tips

Design Tips

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Presentation Design Templates

Presentation Design Templates contain

One

blank title slide (by default)

Four Masters: Slide, Title, Handout, Notes

Several color schemes (one is default)

Default font(s) and sizes

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Presentation Content Templates

Presentation Content Templates contain a series

of slides for a sample presentation outline.

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Modifying Templates

All templates are easy to modify; make most

modifications on the masters

Select optional or create new color scheme

Color scheme may apply to all or one slide

Change default typography

Modify, delete, and add graphics

Objects added to individual slide stay in front of

objects on the master slide

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Making Custom Templates

Start with a blank presentation of existing

template to design and make your own
Custom templates

Save custom template with other templates

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Masters

View Menu > Masters > Slide, Title,

Handout, and Notes

Correct

use of masters greatly improves

your productivity

Change

on a master will affect all slides

Modifying master layouts

Headers and Footers

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Modifying Master Layouts

Each master can be modified just as any
slide can be modified

Masters can be modified at any time

Any changes made on any slide override
the defaults established on the masters

The master defaults can be reapplied to any
slide(s) at any time

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Headers and Footers

View Menu > Header

and Footer opens
dialog box
No headers on slides
H&F are set
separately for slides
and for
notes/handouts

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Colors

The Microsoft color picker

Changing color schemes for all slides or for

individual slides

Color

scheme establishes default colors for

shapes, lines, text, background

Changing colors of shapes, lines, text

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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The PowerPoint Color Picker

The MS
Office 2001
PowerPoint
color picker
contains
several color
models for
defining color.

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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The PowerPoint Color Picker

Gradients, textures,
patterns, and photos are
defined and selected in
the color picker

Additional textures and

about 100 stock photos
are in the CD-ROM
Value Pack Folder

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Slide Layouts

Slide layout options provide predetermined positions, but they are not
needed and they can be modified.

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

13

Fonts in PowerPoint

MS Office standard install has 19 fonts

Most are the default fonts for the 17

standard presentation designs templates

An additional 58 fonts are in Value Pack

MS Office applications work best with

their own fonts (TrueType, not PostScript)

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Fonts in PowerPoint

Fonts must be available on the computer in

order for the presentation to display
correctly

Don't depend on fonts being available

everywhere

Collect special fonts and include them in

the folder with the PowerPoint file

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Type Face Classification

Type faces are often classified by general

appearance characteristics.

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Typography Tips

Choose font wisely

Avoid type face
choices that do not
fit the message
Avoid hard-to-read fonts for body
text
Avoid hard-to-read fonts
for body text

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

17

Typography Tips
Avoid ALL CAPS except for short
headlines or to emphasize a key word

ALL CAPS MAKES THE TEXT VERY
DIFFICULT TO READ QUICKLY AND
ACCURATELY

Make SMALL CAPS manually by changing
the size of the type in the word

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Typography Tips

Use light colored type in dark background areas

Type in a dark color.

Oil Field at Sunset

Type in a dark color.

Avoid using red-on-blue or blue-on-red combinations

Avoid using red-on-blue or blue-on-red combinations
Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Typography Tips

Use dark colored type in light background areas

Reflections

Use black type in a light color.

Use color type in light area.

Never use yellow on white!

Use dark, not white, type in a yellow area
Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

20

Concepts of Layout Design

Purpose of Layout Design

Attract

and control readers eye

Layout design considerations

Use

of space

Emphasis

by color, position, size, proportion

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

21

Use of Space

Use key words, phrases, and graphics on the

slides to better control pace of presentation.
One of the most common mistakes is
having large paragraphs of text. The
concepts should be broken into short
phrases which can be explained by the
presenter. There is no need to put every
word on the slide and then simply read the
slide to the audience.

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

22

Use of Space

Use key words, phrases, and

graphics to pace yourself.

Mistake to have large paragraphs

of text.

Display and explain short phrases.

Do not just read the slides.

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Use of Space

Use Format > Line

Spacing

Enables better visual break

between paragraphs

Enables better overall fit in

text box

Use on any individual slide

or on the Master slide

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

24

Use of Space

Important:

Audience will see slide

from a distance.
Don't make the text too
small.

(But it looked fine on my monitor!)

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Use of Space
Design tip:

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

Let the graphic

direct the viewers
eye through slide
The graphic brings
your eye back
toward this text box
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Emphasis

Communicating the
importance of a word or
image

Getting (and keeping)

viewers attention.

Use color, shapes, space,

proportion, size

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

27

Emphasis by Color, Proportion

Modify any
clip art to meet
your needs

A simple map with NY isolated,

duplicated, enlarged, colored, and
animated.
Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

28

Emphasis by Color, Size, Space

Which phrase do you see first?

Which phrase do you see first?
Which phrase do you see first?

Which

phrase do you see first?

Which phrase do you see first?

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

29

Emphasis by Contrast

If you use slide element animations, you

can enable automatic text shading.

Use of shading emphasizes text and directs

the viewers attention.

This feature works at the paragraph level

within a single text box.

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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Next Steps

Now, not later, practice before you forget

Explore the possibilities; be creative
Xperiment with the options (and spelling!)
Try (you can always undo)
So what if the first try is not perfect
The only way to get better is to practice
Everyone can make great slide shows
PowerPoint presentations do not need to look the
Same!

Prof. Kenneth F. Hoffmann NTID/RIT

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